Mick McCarthy says he is ready to lead his Republic of Ireland team to a World Cup play-off in the politically-fraught Middle East - but only under Fifa orders.

Mick McCarthy says he is ready to lead his Republic of Ireland team to a World Cup play-off in the politically-fraught Middle East - but only under Fifa orders.

McCarthy is trying to focus on tomorow's final Group Two qualifier in Dublin against Cyprus even though win, lose or draw, the Irish are virtually certain to still need a play-off win against a runner-up from one of the Asian groups.

The prospect of playing the likes of Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan over two legs would be unlikely to worry the Irish on purely a football level.

But the current world political climate, with fears of American and European forces being prepared to attack the region in reprisal for last month's terrorist outrage in New York, is clearly another matter.

McCarthy said: "You cannot help it intruding into your thoughts.

"But if Fifa tell us we have to play in Iran or anywhere else then as far as I'm concerned that's what we'll have to do."

Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs handed Scotland a World Cup boost by admitting many of his stars are as rusty as an old saw.

Scotland must engineer a seven-goal swing at Croatia's expense to pip them for a play-off place.

That means hammering Latvia at Hampden Park and Belgium winning in Zagreb.

Starkovs confessed he was worried that almost all of his English-based players were severely lacking in match fitness. Only Marian Pahars of Southampton has been playing regularly this season.

"It's a problem for us. We have had five days to get ready for this match and although I am still prepared to pick them I am really just hoping they will be ready for it," said Starkovs. "It is a very important game for our team. We have to fight for a better place in the Fifa rankings.

"Some of my players are playing for transfers to bigger clubs. They will give everything."

Wales' under-achieving young players have been told to copy Craig Bellamy's example if they want to make it into the senior international team.

The advice comes from Under-21 boss Jimmy Shoulder, who will say farewell to the majority of his squad after tonight's European Championship qualifier against Belarus at Ninian Park.

County Durham-born Shoulder sees Bellamy as the major plus to emerge from this current Under-21 squad. He said of the &#xA3;6m Newcastle striker: "When I first saw him with the Under-16s people thought he was the mascot he was so small.

"But just look at what he's achieved and how hard he's worked.

"That's the message. If you are prepared to work at your job, you will get better and then you do stand a chance of progressing to the next stage. Bellamy proves it can be done."

Injury-hit Nathan Blake is now almost certainly out of Wales' World Cup clash with Belarus tomorrow.